[From Chris Cherpas (951117.0858 PT)]
[re: > Bill Powers (951117.0600 MST)]
[re: >> Chris Cherpas (951116.1047 PT) and various replies]
cc:
Thanks to all for some fascinating PCT comments on drugs.
It's always educational to see how people who understand
a particular theory use it to respond to a new question, e.g.:
cc:
So what happens the first time somebody tries, let's say,
crack cocaine? Suddenly, there's a very "important" reference
level to maintain. How did the new reference level get there?
BP:
... a reference _level_ means the state near which an observable
environmental variable is maintained by the observable behavior of the
system. So when we talk about the reference level of a controlled
variable, we're talking about a physical measurement in the environment,
a publicly-observable phenomenon.
cc:
This is indeed how I was thinking about the term "reference level."
BP:
Different "feel-good" drugs must have different degrees of effect on
reducing intrinsic error. Some may selectively affect reorganization at
different levels in the hierarchy.
cc:
Yes. Some drugs may speed up reorganization at different orders.
Take a psychedelic, like LSD: it may be a model of reorganization
rate out of control at some orders, a bit like a computer operating
system thrashing for more memory or process capacity. For many people
this would certainly be experienced as a "bad trip."
On the other hand, some people report a "satori-like" experience
(Buddhist enlightenment), perhaps because in the midst of all the
unresolved error, they continue to "go with the flow" -- i.e., maybe
there's an "ultimate" or highest order of control which corresponds
to a state in which one is aware of many lower orders being full of
what would normally be perceived as errors, but "not caring."
In other words, satori comes not from having all your lower-order
wants satisfied, but by short-circuiting wanting. The paradox
(and definition) of the zen master is to have as a purpose "no purpose."
Imagine the freedom and calm euphoria one might experience in a state
where one is neither dead nor purposeful. OK, I've said enou
...But, seriously, has anyone done a PCT analysis of satori?
Please enlighten me.
Sound of one keyboard clacking,
cc